What services are included in the fee given up front and what
additional cost of fees resident will have to pay and for what
service?

What happens if a resident’s money runs out? Does the resident have
to move? Will the facility help to apply for Medicaid if
appropriate?

Is the facility certified? By what agency and what does that mean?
Medicare and/or Medicaid?

Look at past surveys (inspections) by the licensing agency.

Talk to more staff than just the marketing or admissions person.

If possible, take the potential resident for a visit and get their
input.

Don’t be fooled by expensive décor. This does not equate to mean
better care.

Look at all sizes of facilities. Sometimes the smaller (4-8 bed)
facilities are more appropriate for a resident.

Visit more than once –

Different times of the day

Different days of the week – at least once on a weekend day

Visit at least once unannounced and tour the facility
unaccompanied by staff

Are activity schedules posted and are they appropriate
activities that are actually happening during your visit?

Visit during meal time

Use all of your senses:

Do residents look clean and attended to? Are they clean?
Groomed?

Is it a comfortable temperature for the resident?

Is it a comfortable temperature for the resident? Are surfaces
clean or sticky?

Are there odors – either pleasant or unpleasant?

Is it noisy? Is music appropriate for the residents? Are
staffing talking with residents?

Are staff talking to each other in a different language that
the resident can’t understand? Are staff talking about
residents where others can hear?

If possible – eat a meal there. Is it appealing? Appropriate?
Are staff assisting the residents – to open items and/or to
eat? Are the residents served food or are they sitting and
waiting for a long time? Does one resident get their food long
before another at the same table?

Read the contract before signing. Ask for a copy to take home and
review. Make sure you understand it or take it to someone that can
help you understand it.

Get a copy of the Resident’s Rights and know them.

Find the regulations for this type of facility on-line or call the
licensing agency to get a copy.

Review them and keep a copy for future reference.

Ask about the staff of the facility

Who owns this facility

Ask about the administrator – background and how long they have
been with this facility

What is the amount of staff turnover?

What is the caregiver staff to resident ratio?

Are staff consistently assigned to a resident?

What type of training does staff have?

Does staff have specialized training for the dementia unit?
What is it?

Does the facility provide the services that the resident needs?

Ask if there is a Family Council – ask to speak with the Family
Council Chair.

Ask if there is a Residents Council – ask to speak with the
Resident Council Chair which should be a resident, not a staff
member.

6. Once you have selected a long-term care facility:

Know all staff possible – the administrator, head of nursing
services, social worker, direct caregivers

Ask if they are not satisfied with the care or have a problem, how
should this be handled? Who in the facility do they go to?

Know if there is a Volunteer Ombudsman and how to contact them.

Know the Licensing agency for the facility, that contact person and
their number.

Get a copy of the resident’s basic information sheet to ensure all
the emergency contact information is correct. Review this at least
quarterly.

Make sure that know who the main contact person is and who should
be contacted if that person is not available.